Opening tenter, for tubular knitted fabrics and the like

ABSTRACT

The invention is directed in part to a tenter apparatus, particularly for the slitting and opening of tubular knitted fabrics, in which there is provided a divergent tenter section, for conveying slit edges of an initially tubular fabric to an open width condition and a second, integral tenter section for further conveying the fabric at a predetermined open width dimension during the processing stage. Importantly, the opening and processing stages of the tenter, at each side, are constituted by a single tenter chain, so that the fabric is uninterruptedly controlled by the tenter throughout the opening and processing sequence.

United States Patent 848,416 3/1907 Voland et a1. l 26/51.3 2,006,814 7/1935 PayeL. 26/57 2.60l,713 7/1952 Nield... .1 26/57 (A) 3,289,510 12/1966 Carteret al .1 26/55 (WCHUX) Primary Examiner-Robert R. Mackey Attorney-Mandeville and Schweitzer ABSTRACT: The invention is directed in part to a tenter apparatus, particularly for the slitting and opening of tubular knitted fabrics, in which there is provided a divergent tenter section, for conveying slit edges of an initially tubular fabric to an open width condition and a second, integral tenter section for further conveying the fabric at a predetermined open width dimension during the processingstage. lmportantly, the opening and processing stages of the tenter, at each side, are constituted by a single tenter chain, so that the fabric is uninterruptedly controlled by the tenter throughout the opening and processing sequence.

PATENIEUJUL 6 l9?! SHEET 1 UF 7 mm lltnlb...

INVENTOR DAVID PERNICK ATTORNEYS PATENTED JUL 6 ml SHEET 2 OF 7 INVENTOR DAVID PERNICK ATTORNEYS PATENTEOJUL elsm 3,590,450

SHEET 3 BF 7 "lllll ll H1 IHHI lllHl INVENTOR DAVID PERNICK ATTOR NEYS PATENTED JUL 6 l3?! sum u [If 7 INVENTOR DAVID PERNlCK ATIORNFYS PATENTEUJUL 619?: 3590.450

SHEET 6 OF 7 FIG. 3

INVENTOR DAVID PERNICK BY mam M640! ATTORNEYS PATENTED JUL 6 I97! SHEET 7 OF 7 FIG. 5

INVENTOR DAVID PERNICK ATTORNEYS OPENING TENTER, FOR TUBULAR KNITTED FABRICS AND THE LIKE The invention is also directed in part to a tenter apparatus comprising at least two distinct and separately controllable tenter sections. The first or conveyor section takes initial engagement with the edges of a fabric web and effects a controlled advancement thereof. The fabric edges are then transferred to an opening and/or processing tenter which handles and conveys the fabric in a desired manner. By relative control of the conveyor tenters and the opening tenters, an advantageous overfeeding of the fabric onto the opening tenters may be effected. By relative control of the conveyor tenters may be effected. By relative control of the conveyor tenters for the opposite fabric edges, one edge may be shifted relative to the other in a desired and controlled manner for stripe straightening or other processing advantages.

Background of the Invention Tubular knitted fabric, that is, fabric knitted in a seamless circular or tubular form, is being utilized to a large and increasing extent in an open width form. For example, one substantial end use of such fabrics is in upholstery materials comprising a lamination of the open width fabric with a vinyl surfacing material.

Where tubular knitted fabric ultimately is to e utilized in open width form, it is desirable and advantageous to effect the conversion at a fairly early stage in the fabric processing sequence. This minimizes handling of the fabric in its tubular form and thus avoids or minimizes the formation of crease marks and the like, as where the edges ofa tubular-form fabric are passed through a roller nip or otherwise subjected to mechanical pressures.

One of the advantageous arrangements for converting tubular knitted fabric to an open width form is represented by the Sidney L. Carter, et al. U.S. Pat. No. 3,289,510. The apparatus of that patent enables fabric to be converted while still in a wet or moist form, straight from a wet processing operation. The fabric (whether wet or dry) is conveyed in a loosely draped form, by means of an internal conveyor arrangement supported beyond the forward end of the fabric tube, up to a slitting knife, which severs the tube longitudinally. The newly cut edges of the fabric tube are transferred immediately to a pair of pin tenters, which are disposed in divergent relation. The newly formed fabric edges are thereupon conveyed outward and forward to convert the fabric from a loosely draped form to the desired full open width condition.

The present invention utilizes the the advantageous principles of the Carter, et al. U.S. Pat. No. 3,289,510, and provides in addition, for the incorporation of certain important improvements therein, enabling desirable controls to be maintained over the fabric during the opening or converting process, such that a superior final product may be realized.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION In accordance with one aspect of the invention, an apparatus is provided for slitting and opening of tubular knitted fabric, incorporating the basic principles of the Carter, et al. U.S. Pat. No. 3,289,510, in which there is provided a novel and improved tenter arrangement which, in a continuous, uninterrupted sequence, guides and conveys the slit fabric edges, initially in a divergent manner, to convertthe fabric to its full open width dimension, and subsequently in parallel relation, to convey the fabric through a processing stage while maintaining it in a predetermined geometrical configuration. While providing for continuous tenter chains, constituting both the opening and the processing stages of the tenter means, a most advantageous degree of processing control may be maintained over the fabric. In the case of tubular knitted fabric. this is of particular significance, as the fabric is in herently elastic and distortable and may be significantly affected by even momentary loss of control prior to process stablization.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a novel and improved apparatus is provided for slitting, opening and processing tubular knitted fabric in close-coupled sequence, in which there is provided between the slitting knife and the opening tenters, a pair of controllably operable conveyor tenters which pick up the newly slit fabric and carry it in a controlled manner to the primary or opening tenters. Control arrangements are provided whereby the conveyor tenters may be driven at a controllably higher rate of speed than the opening tenters, such that the slit fabric may e controllably overfed onto the opening tenters.

In the handling and processing of the slit fabric with the equipment of the invention, the fabric, after being converted to its open width condition, frequently may e subjected to lateral distension, in the presence of moisture, whereby the fabric is set and stabilized at a predetermined, uniform width. Because ofthe structural nature of the knitted material, lateral distension imparted thereto causes the material to be shortened in a lengthwise direction. This can cause undesirable distortions, where the fabric edges are being restrained by the opening and processing tenters. Such distortions are, however, obviated in accordance with the present invention by efiecting a controllable overfeed of the fabric edges onto the opening tenters in the first instance. The tendency for the fabric to shorten in the lengthwise direction is accommodated for by the initially overfed condition of the fabric when it is gripped by the tenter means.

In the manufacture of tubular knitted fabric, the construction proceeds in a continuous, spiral fashion. Typically, several rows of Stitches are being knitted simultaneously, such that the spiral course of any given row of stitches will have a lead (i.e., longitudinal advance for each course about the circumference of the tube) corresponding to the width of several rows of stitches. Thus, when the fabric is slit longitudinally and laid open, the rows of stitches normally will not lie exactly at right angles to the longitudinal centerline of the open width fabric, but will be canted somewhat. This canted condition may sometimes (although not always) be tolerable in a plain fabric. However, where the fabric is knitted with a striped pattern, the angular disposition of the stripes is immediately evident in the open width fabric.

According to the present invention, the slitting and opening apparatus, incorporating auxiliary or conveyor tenter means generally as above described, includes arrangements for varying the effective length of the conveyor tenter at one side, relative to the effective length of the conveyor tenter at the other side. By this means, one of the slit edges of the fabric may be caused to travel through a longer or shorter distance than the other edge in travelling from the point at which the fabric is severed to a predetermined point on the opening and processing tenter. The fabric may thus be slightly and controllably skewed from its knitted condition, so that in the finished condition of the fabric, the stitch lines and/or stripes in the fabric lie at right angles to the longitudinal centerline of the web.

With the apparatus of the invention, the conversion of a tubular knitted fabric to its open width form, by slitting and opening, may be effected with an optimum degree of control over the fabric edges, such that stripe straightening and controlled overfeeding may be simultaneously accomplished, and the output of finished fabric from the equipment will be in an optimum condition for the most demanding end use applications, such as for vinyl-fabric upholstery combinations. However, while the invention is most particularly applicable to the slitting and opening of tubular knitted fabrics, the inventive association of elements described and claimed herein may be utilized in other ways and for other purposes, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

For a fuller understanding of the invention, reference should be made to the following detailed specification and to the accompanying drawing.

Description ofthe Drawing FIG. la and FIG. lb, together, constitute a top plan view of an advantageous form of slitting, opening and processing apparatus for tubular knitted fabric, incorporating the features of the invention.

FIGS. 2a, 2b, and 26, together, constitute a side elevational Description ofa Preferred Embodiment of the Invention Referring now to the drawing, and initially to FIGS. 1 and 2 thereof, the reference numeral FIGS. la, 2a) designates generally the entry end of the apparatus, which is arranged to receive tubular knitted fabric from a suitable source ofsupply, not specifically illustrated. An input conveyor is provided for the incoming fabric, and advantageously this conveyor consists of a pair of closely spaced belts 11 arranged to be received internally of the fabric. The entire fabric tube is supported by the upper reaches of the belts 11, as the fabric approaches the entry end of the equipment, and the fabric tube drapes loosely downward about a supporting frame 12. The input conveyor belts 11 extend in closely straddling relation to the discharge or downstream side of a rotary cutting knife 13, suitably journaled for high speed rotation by the machine frame. The arrangement is such that as the loosely draped tubular material is advanced by the conveyor belts 11 it is severed longitudinally by the high speed knife 13.

In accordance with the invention, and as will be described in greater detail, the tubular knitted fabric, after slitting by the knife 13 has its newly formed edges 14, 15 (FIG. 3) directed outward a short distance, about brush rollers 16, 17 and engaged by the forwardly moving or advancing reaches 18, 19 of auxiliary or conveyor tenters designated generally by the nu merals 20, 21.

The fabric edges are carried forward by the conveyor tenters 20, 2] and about the forward ends thereof, defined by sprockets 22, 23. The fabric edges then pass around transfer roller assemblies 24, 25, to be described and are engaged by the forward moving or advancing reaches 26, 27 of combined opening and processing tenters generally designated by the numerals 28, 29.

As reflected in FIG. 1a, the opening-processing tenters 28, 29 first convey the fabric edges forwardly and outwardly, until the initially tubular fabric is converted to its full open width form, typically with a predetermined degree of lateral distension. This is accomplished in the opening sections 30, 31 of the tenters.

After the fabric has been opened and distended to its desired width, the tenter chains are guided into parallel paths, in a processing section indicated by the numerals 32, 33. While the fabric is being conveyed at uniform width through the processing section of the tenter, it may be exposed to various processing actions, such as drying, steaming, or the like. In the present illustration, the processing section includes a steam box 34 (FIG. 2b) which extends transversely across the machine frame, directly underneath the plane of the tentered fabric, so that steam may be directed upwardly through the fabric as it passes over. The steam thus imparted lubricates the fibers and yarns of the fabric and enables the fabric to be set in the uniform geometric condition established by the tenter.

After steaming, the fabric is conveyed past a cooling blower 35. As it reaches the end of the processing tcntcr section, the fabric is depinned or otherwise released by the tenter and is gathered in a suitable form. In the illustrated arrangement, the

gathering facility consists of a windup 36 arranged to gather the open width, processed fabric in a roll 37.

Advantageously, at least the opening-processing tenter units 28, 29 incorporate latching type, pivotable tenter pins as generally described and claimed in my copending application Ser. No. 792,714 filed Jan. 21, 1969, entitled Tenter Means for Fabrics and the Like." In accordance with the copending application, the tenter pins of thy opening tenter sections 30, 31 are initially oriented in a generally horizontal disposition, enabling effective pinning and vertical support of the edges of a draped fabric, shortly after slitting of the fabric tube and while it is still in a somewhat closed configuration. Thereafter, and as the fabric edges are advanced divergently by the opening tenter sections, the tenter pin carriers are reoriented to a generally vertical disposition, to secure the fabric and to enable lateral forces to be applied thereto during the opening and lateral distending operations.

As ill be described in somewhat more detail, the conveying tenters 20, 21 are arranged to be driven at controllably variable speeds relative to the opening-processing tenter units 28, 29 to enable the fabric to be, in effect, overfed onto the opening tenters. In addition, the conveying tenters 20,21 are bodily movable generally along the directions of the principal axes, that is, in generally upstream-downstream directions relative to fabric movement. Desirably, the bodily movement of these conveyors is opposed, so that adjustment in one unit in an upstream direction is accompanied by corresponding movement ofthe other unit in a downstream direction. This enables controlled variation in the length of travel of the fabric edge between the point at which it is cut by the slitting knife 13, and the points at which the edges are applied to the pins of the opening conveyor sections 30, 31.

Referring in greater detail to the construction of the ap paratus, the entry end of the equipment includes a plurality of structural supports 40 from which extends a platform 41. The platform is supported by brackets 42 arranged in straddling relation to the supporting beam 12 for the conveyor belts 11. As reflected in FIG. 3, the platform 41 includes pairs of guide elements 42 which slidably guide carrier beams 43 for the respective conveyor tenters 20, 21. Desirably, the carrier means 43 are arranged for limited sliding movement in the general direction of the machine axis, and preferably along axes which converge slightly toward the discharge end of the equipment in order to achieve a more compact overall design.

Each of the carrier beams 43 journals pairs of downwardly extending shafts 44, which extend through openings in the platform 41 and carry chain sprockets 22, 22a, and 23, 230 at their lower ends. The sprockets 22, 23 carry tenter chains 45, constituting the conveyor tenters 20, 21. Desirably, the tenter chains 45 are of the pin tenter-type, oriented with the tenter pins projecting generally horizontally and perhaps canted slightly upward, to provide for effective support of the edges ofa loosely draped fabric.

At one end, the carrier beams 43 are engaged by threaded shafts 46 which are received in threaded bushings 47 and are journaled on the platform by bearings 48. The shafts 46 carry bevel gears 49 arranged to have meshing engagement with bevel pinions 50, 51 carried by shafts 52, 53. A control hand wheel 54 is carried by the shaft 52, which is in turn connected to the shaft 53 by a universal joint 54. When the hand wheel 54 is rotated, the threaded shafts 46 are driven in opposite directions. By reason of the threaded connection of the shafts 46 with the carrier beams 43, the entire conveyor tenter assemblies 20, 21 are caused to shift bodily along their respective axes, but in opposite directions. Thus, the conveyor tenter unit 20 may shift bodily in the downstream direction, or to the right in FIG. 3, while the tenter unit 21 is shifted in the upstream direction or to the left. This advantageous arrangement enables the tenter-engaged fabric edges to be phase shifted relative to each other, as will more fully appear.

In the illustrated arrangement, the carrier tenters 20,21 are driven by sprockets 55, carried by downwardly extending shafts 56, rotatably supported by the platform 41 and by a second platform 57. The upper ends of the shafts 56 project above the platform 57 and carry bevel gears 58. These gears are driven by bevel pinions 59, 60 carried by a shaft 61. Power input to the shaft 61 is through a drive motor 62 (FIG. 2a) and gear box 63, one or both of which is variable to accommodate basic adjustment of the machine speed. A drive chain 64 operates a shaft 65 extending across the top of the platform 57. At one end, the shaft 65 carries a variably pulley 66, which, through a belt 67 and pulley 68, drives the shaft 61. Accordingly, the shaft 61 and the conveyor tenter chains 45 are driven at a controllably variable relation to the basic machine speed, as determined by the setting of the variable pulley 66.

The input conveyor belts 11 are driven by a chain 69 (FIG, Zn) from a shaft 70. In turn, the shaft 70 is driven from the conveyor tenter drive shaft 61, through a variable pulley 71, belt 72, and pulley 73. The arrangement is such that the input conveyor 11 may be driven at a controllably variable speed relative to the speed of the conveyor tenter units 20, 21.

In the illustrated arrangement, the cutting knife 13 is supported on a shaft 74,journaled by the platform 41. The cutting knife 13 is independently driven at high speed by a motor 75, suitably mounted at the side of the platform 41.

As shown particularly in FIG. 3, the incoming fabric F is carried in a downstream direction by the closely spaced conveyor belts 11, which straddle the cutting knife 13. The tubular fabric is thus severed longitudinally at a cutting point C. The newly formed out edges of the fabric 14, 15, are thereupon diverted outwardly and about brush wheels 16,17. These brush wheels are supported by vertical shafts 76 in meshing or interfering relation with the tenter pins of the chains 45. Thus, as the fabric edges pass about the brush wheels 16, 17, the fabric is forced against and impaled upon the tenter pins in the desired manner. Advantageously, the brush wheels l6, 17 are driven in synchronous relation with the tenter pins by means of sprockets 77 meshing with the chain links of the tenter chains.

Typically, the conveyor belts 11 are operated in substantial synchronism with the conveyor tenters 20, 21, by effecting appropriate adjustment of the variable pulley 71. A very slight amount of tension in the fabric edges, between the cutting point and the rush wheels 16, 17, may be desired, however, to assure effective, positive control over the fabric edges up to the point where it is impaled upon the tenter pins.

The effective point on the conveyor tenters 20, 21, at which the fabric edges are pinned, and therefore the effective length of these conveyor tenters, is regulated by the upstreamdownstream adjustment of the conveyor tenters by the hand wheel 54. The brush wheels 16, 17, of course, remain on fixed axes. The drive sprockets 55 likewise remain on fixed axes and are retained in constant mesh with the respective tenter chains 45,

The opening-processing tenters 28, 29, include entry end sections 80 which are supported in fixed relation to the plat forms 41, 57. These entry end sections 80 straddle and overlap the discharge ends of the conveyor tenters 20, 21, substantially as illustrated in FIG. 3, and are oriented to diverge in a downstream direction. At the innermost end of the opening processing tenters 28, 29, there are sprockets 81 supported by vertical shafts 82, rotatably journaled in the platforms 41, 57. The shafts 82 have bevel gears 83 at their upper ends meshing with bevel pinions 84 carried by the drive shaft 65. The drive shaft 65, as will be recalled, is operated at machine speed, from the gear drive 63.

Connected to the entry end sections 80, at pivot points 85, are tenter beams 86, which extend outward and are joined at outer pivot points 87 to short tenter beam sections 88. The beam sections 88 are also pivoted at 89 to elongated tenter beam sections 90, which extend in parallel relation through an elongated processing tenter section of the apparatus. At their downstream ends, the tenter beams 90 carry sprockets 91. Tenter chains 92 are trained about the sprockets 81, 91, at the entry and discharge end extremities of the opening-processing tenter. Intermediate these extremities, the tenter chain is suitably guided to follow the tenter beam sections 86, 88, 90. Thus, in accordance with one aspect of the invention, the opening and processing sections of the tenter are comprised of continuous lengths of tenter chain. This enables the fabric to be converted to open width form and subsequently processed while uninterruptedly controlled by the tenter chains.

Usually, the tenter beam sections 88, 90 are arranged in aligned relation, and the beam assemblies 88, 90 are disposed in parallel relation, symmetricaily arranged with respect to the centerline of the equipment. The tenter beam sections 86, however, are pivotable at to vary the angle of the opening tenter section as required to accommodate fabrics of various open width dimensions.

The various tenter beams 86, 88, are supported for inward and outward adjusting movement by angularly disposed platform plates 9395, carried by the frame structure of the machine and supporting casterlike elements 96, carried by the tenter beams.

To effect width adjustment of the opening-processing tenter section, a hand wheel 97 is operated to rotate a threaded control shaft 98. Through a series of chains 99, 100, similar threaded control shafts 101, 102 are operated in synchronism. Through an arrangement of disengageable gears I03, and the gear drive 104, control shafts 105, 106 are arranged to be driven in synchronism with or independently of the other control shafts. The control shafts 98, 101, 102, and 106 have threaded engagement with elements 107 of the various tenter beam elements to provide for controlled inward and outward movement of the tenter beams in response to rotation of the control shafts, while also accommodating a degree of longitudinal translation of the elements resulting from pivoting of the beams 86v For normal fabric width adjustment of the equipment, the hand wheel 97 is rotated to effect simultaneous inward or outward movement of the tenter beam sections 88, 90. The op posite sides of the processing tenter section are thus normally substantially parallel throughout their entire length. For special processing effects, such as initial overspreading of the fabric, or for effecting a more gradual rate of spreading, it may be desirable to effect adjustment of the short tenter beam sections 88 independent of the beam sections 90. To this end, a clutch element 108, keyed to the control shaft 98, may be disengaged from the synchronizing chain 99. With the clutch thus engaged, manipulation of the hand wheel adjustment 97 will effect inward or outward simultaneous adjustment of the tenter beam sections 88, about the pivots 89. The opening section tenter beams 88, will, in such event, be pivoted inward or outward as a result of the motion of the beam sections 88. If the beam sections 88 are pivoted outward about the pivots 89, the fabric will be initially distended to an overspread condition, and then returned to the preset width of the remainder of the processing section. If, on the other hand, the beam sections 88 are swung inward about the pivot 89, this will have the effect of lengthening the opening section of the tenter, in the sense that the fabric will not be conveyed to its full open width condition until the tenter chains approach the region of the pivot point 89.

If it is desired to adjust the disposition of the short tenter beam sections 88, not only independently of the elongated beam sections 90, but also independently of each other, a clutch lever 109 may be lifted to disengage the gear mechanism 103. Thereafter, further manipulation of the hand wheel 97 will effect adjustment of only one of the beam sections 88 (the lower one in FIG. 111).

At the upstream end of the opening tenter, the tenter pins initially are in a generally horizontal position, to accommodate pinning of the edges of the loosely draped fabric web. As the tenter chains proceed divergently in a downstream direction, the tenter pins are gradually reoriented into a generally vertical position, to enable the fabric edges to remain engaged by the pins as the fabric assumes its full open width condition. The facilities for accomplishing such reorientation of the tenter pins include tenter elements which are pivoted on the tenter chain, and the disposition thereofis controlled by appropriate cams alongside the tenter chains. These arrangements are described in greater detail in my beforementioned copending application Ser. No. 792,714, filed Jan. 2 l, 1969.

Desirably, adjacent the discharge end of the processing tenter, facilities are provided for releasing the tenter pins for pivoting movement into generally horizontal disposition, as described in greater detail in my before-mentioned copending application. This encourages and facilities depinning of the fabric at the completion of processing.

During the course of travel of the fabric through the processing section of the tenter, the fabric may be subjected to appropriate processing operations, such as heating, drying, steaming, etc. In the illustrated arrangement, just by way of example, processing of the fabric is effected by steaming during conveyance of the fabric on the processing section. For this purpose, steam is emitted from a steam box 34, supported on the machine frame,just below the tenter beam sections 90.

Referring now more specifically to FIG. 3, 4 and 5, there is illustrated a novel and advantageous arrangement for effecting transfer of the fabric from the conveying tenters 20, 21, to the opening-processing tenters 28, 29. With reference first to FIG. 3, it will be observed that the newly cut fabric edges 14, 15, after passing around the brush heels 16, 17 and being engaged by the pins of the tenter chains 45, are conveyed in a downstream direction, toward the discharge ends of the conveyor tenters, and then are carried around the sprockets 22, 23, and started back in an upstream direction by the return reaches of the tenter chains. In this respect, in the illustration of FIG. 3, the respective conveyor tenters 20, 21 are shown in a balanced or symmetrical adjustment, and the invention particularly contemplates that, in many instances, one of these tenters will be bodily shifted in the downstream direction and the other bodily shifted upstream the upstream direction. The limits of the adjustment are such, however, that the fabric edges are conveyed at least partway around the discharge ends of the conveyor tenters, by the sprockets 22, 23 and directed, usually somewhat in the upstream direction, toward the respective opening-processing tenters.

Disposed between the respective tenter chain elements 45, 92 of the conveyor tenters and opening-processing tenters, are transfer roll assemblies 24, 25. These assemblies include brush wheels 110 and guide rollers lll, disposed one above the other on shafts 112 rotatably supported by the platform 41. At their upper ends the shafts 112 carry sprockets 113 (FIG. 3) driven by chains 114 and sprockets 115. The sprockets 115 are carried at the upper ends of vertical shafts 116, and the lower ends of these shafts carry sprockets 117 arranged in mesh with the conveyor tenter chains 45. Accordingly, the transfer rollers assemblies are driven in precise synchronism with the operation of the conveyor tenters 20, 21.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the fabric edges, in transfer from the conveyor tenters to the openingprocessing tenters are carried partly about the circumference of the brush wheels 110. As the transferring fabric approaches the opening section tenter pins, the fabric is lightly impaled thereon. Since it is a contemplated important feature of the in vention that the fabric will, at least in some cases, be controllably overfed to the opening tenter section, the brush wheel 110, travelling synchronously with the transferring fabric, will be moving at a somewhat higher speed than the opening section tenter chains and will have only a slight interference or overlap with the tenter pins. Accordingly the brush wheels 110 are arranged to have a slight relative movement with the opening section tenter chains, while effecting a slight, temporary pinning ofthe fabric thereon. Immediately downstream of the brush wheels 110 are second stage brush wheels 118, which press the fabric tightly onto the tenter pins, as indicated at 119 in FIG. 5.

In order to maintain effective control over the edge margin area of the loosely draped fabric, during transfer thereof, from one tenter section to another, arcuate pressure shoes 120 are resiliently urged against the surface of the guide rollers 111, over a substantial portion of the arcuate surfaces of the latter, in the free span between the conveying and opening tenter sections. As shown in FIG. 4, the pressure shoes 120 cover an arc of around being flared outwardly somewhat at 121 to facilitate entry of the fabric, and being pressed against the roller surface by means such as springs 122. As shown in FIG. 5, the guide rolls 11 1 and pressure shoes engage the fabric somewhat below its marginal extremity, where the fabric is to be engaged by the tenter pins. This upper marginal extremity is supported against the outer surface of the brush wheels 110, in the manner indicated. The thus gripped and supported fabric travels about the guide roller assembly 24 or 25 and is released from under the shoe at or perhaps slightly after the instant at which the fabric is engaged by the tenter pins 11 (seeFlG.4).

To avoid any tendency for the brush wheel itself to pin" the fabric, and carry it back away from the tenter pins 119, a guard plate 123 is provided to cooperate with each of the brush wheels 110. As reflected in FIG. 4, the leading edge of the guard plate 123, in the plane of the brush wheel, is located at 124, so as to just clear the ends of the tenter pins 119 while closely embracing the tips of the brush elements. The guard plate 124 thus is in a position to, in effect, doctor off the fabric from the brush wheel 110, in the event of any tendency of the fabric to adhere thereto.

Since, in a particular case, the fabric in transfer is travelling at a higher rate of speed, then the opening conveyor section, the fabric will be controllably overfed onto the tenter pins 119. This is eminently desirable, as it accommodates the tendency of the fabric to shorten if it is laterally distended in subsequent processing.

The smaller brush wheels 118, which effect the final pinning of the fabric on the opening conveyors, will be rotating in substantial synchronism with the opening conveyors, and by the action of the conveyors. Accordingly, it generally is unnecessary to provide an independent drive for effecting rotation of the brush heels 118.

At the discharge end of the illustrated apparatus, the wind up section 36 is comprised principally of a pair of driven wind up rollers 125, 126 and a mandrel guide 127. The rollers 125, 126 are driven synchronously and in the same direction by a chain 128.

The drive train for the wind up section 36 comprises a chain 129 (FIG. 2a), which is operated by the gear drive 63 at the basic machine speed. The chain 129 operates a transversely disposed drive shaft 130, journaled in the lower portion of the machine frame. The shaft 130, through a pair of bevel gears 131, 132, drives an elongated shaft 133 extending lengthwise of the machine and driving a shaft 134, at the discharge end, through a pair of bevel gears 135, 136. At the output end of the shaft 134, there is a pulley 137 which through a belt 138, drives a variable pulley 139. The pulley 139 drives a chain 140 connected to the synchronized wind up rollers 125, 126.

As will be understood, the wind up rollers 125, 126 may be operated at a speed which is controllably variable relative to the machine speed, reflected by the speed of the processing tenter. Typically, the wind up rollers may be driven at a speed just slightly greater than the speed of the processing tenters, so that a very slight tension is maintained on the fabric as it is wound. A slight amount of tension is desirable, as it facilitates maintaining control over the fabric and provides for a smoother roll of wound fabric. However, excessive tension would be undesirable in most cases, as it would narrow the material and introduce distortions therein. The optimum degree of tension may be readily introduced by operator manipulation of the variable pulley 139.

SUMMARY OF OPERATION With the apparatus of the invention, tubular knitted fabric, in either wet or dry condition, is advanced by the conveyor belts 11 to the cutting knife 13, where the fabric is slit longitudinally. The slit edges are then directed divergently a short distance (FIG. 3) about brush wheels l6, 17, which impale the fabric edge margin extremities upon the generally horizontally inwardly directed pins of conveyor tenters, 20, 21. The fabric edges are then advanced by the conveyor tenters, carried about the forward ends thereof, and directed upon the transfer roll assemblies 24, 25. The fabric is guided through an S-curve (or reverse S-curve) path in travelling about the forward ends of the conveyor tenters and about the transfer rollers 24, 25, so that the fabric is at all times maintained in engagement with the pins of the conveyor tenters and is desirably supported by the brush wheels 110 of the transfer roller assemblies. The forward sprockets of the conveyor tenters carry cylindrical guides (See 2312, FIG. 2a) which extend downward a few inches to keep the fabric away from the sprockets.

In order to maintain the fabric properly gripped, as it traverses about the transfer rollers 24, 25, the fabric is pressed against a rubber or other friction surface of the transfer rollers III, by means of pressure shoes 120.

The fabric edges are then lightly applied to advancing portions of the opening-processing tenters 28, 29, by means of the brush wheels 110. The brush wheels, typically travelling at a slightly different speed than the opening-processng tenters, apply the fabric only lightly to the tenter pins 119, and the fabric is fully pinned, almost immediately thereafter, by means of secondary brush wheels 118, arranged to rotate in synchronism with the tenter chains. Additional brush wheels 118a may act on the fabric margins again, after the tenter pins 119 have become vertically oriented.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the operation and disposition of the conveyor tenters 20, 21 is such as to provide for overfeed and stripe straightening control of the fabric as it is being applied to the opening-processing tentersv In this regard, the conveyor tenters are arranged to be operated at a speed controllably faster than that of the opening-processing tenters, so that the fabric is applied to the latter at a somewhat greater rate than it is conveyed away. The transfer roll assemblies 24, 25 are operated in synchronism with the conveyor tenters, so that the fabric is conveyed at the higher speed, directly on to the pins 119 of the openingprocessing tenters.

Control over straightness of stripes or stitch lines is effected by bodily shifting of the conveyor tenters in opposed relation, generally in the direction of the machine axis, as by means of the handwheel 54. Thus, where by reason of the spiral construction of a tubular knitted fabric, for example, a stripe or stitch line normally is disposed at an acute angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the fabric, the leading end of the stripe or stitch line may be retarded relative to the lagging end, between the point C at which the fabric is cut and a given point on the opening-processing tenters, by shifting the conveyor tenter in a downstream direction, at the leading end side, and shifting the other conveyor tenter in an upstream direction.

Once the fabric has been controllably applied to the opening-processing tenter, the fabric edges are conveyed without process or control interruption through an opening stage and a subsequent processing stage. This is realized by providing integral opening and processing sections formed on each side by continuous tenter chains, which are guided first in an outward or divergent relation, to convert the fabric to its open width condition, and then are guided in a substantially parallel relation to convey the fabric through its open width through a processing sequence, such as steaming, drying, or the like.

In view of the geometrically unstable, elastic nature of tubular knitted fabrics, it is especially advantageous to maintain the fabric under continuous tenter control from the commencement of the opening stage through the processing stage. n the discharge side of the processing stage, after the fabric has been dried (ifinitially wet), or steamed (if the fabric is initially dried), or otherwise processed, the fabric generally has greatly increased geometric stability, and the fabric may be released and conveyed to the wind up stage without complication. If, on the other hand, the fabric is released from its tenter means prior to process stabilization, the fabric may tend to contract in width or otherwise undesirably change its geometry.

Overall, the equipment of the invention provides for the conversion of tubular knitted fabric to open width form, and the finishing treatment of the open width fabric in a continuous process sequence, with a maximum of control flexibility being afforded. By providing intermediate or conveyor tenters to carry the fabric from the cutting knife to the opening tenters, highly advantageous controlmay be maintained over stripe or stitch line straightness in the fabric, and over fabric distortions that might result from effecting lateral distension in the opening and processing stages. Thereafter, the fabric is opened and processed with uninterrupted tenter control over the fabric edges and then discharged directly into a wind up or other type of gathering stage. The output of the equipment is a converted, open width fabric in stabilized form, having an optimum uniformity of width and being free to the greatest practicable extent ofirregularities and distortions in the configuration of stitch lines and stripes. Particularly for such highly demanding end use applications as vinyl-fabric upholstery material combinations, finished fabric of such optimum geometric characteristics commands a premium price to the finisher and results in a minimum loss of the fabric and/or the fabric and vinyl combination through rejection.

It should be understood that the specific form of apparatus herein illustrated and described is intended to be representative only, as certain changes may be made therein without departing from the clear teachings of the disclosure. Accordingly, reference should be made to the following appended claims in determining the full scope of the invention.

Iclaim:

1. An apparatus for slitting and opening tubular knitted fabric or the like comprising,

a. a slitting knife,

b. a fabric conveyor tenter means on each side of and extending downstream of the slitting knife,

c. said conveyor tenter means being engageable with the slit edge margins of the fabric and being operative to advance said fabric by its edges in a controlled manner,

d. a pair of opening tenters located downstream of said slitting knife and arranged in overlapping and straddling relation to said conveyor tenter means,

. said opening tenters being positioned to receive the respective slit edge margins of the fabric from said conveyor tenter means and to advance said edges divergently to convert said fabric to an open width form,

. transfer conveyor means extending between the conveyor tenter means and opening tenters, engageable with the fabric edges for transferring the same directly from one tenter means to the other, and

g. conveyor tenter control means for controllably varying the operation of said conveyor tenter means relative to said opening tenters, whereby to afford variable control over the engagement of the fabric edges by the opening tentersv The apparatus of claim 1, further characterized by said conveyor tenter control means comprising means to vary the effective length of the conveyor tenter means at one side relative to the other side, whereby one fabric edge may be caused to travel through a longer path than the other for control of cross line straightness.

. The apparatus of claim 2, further characterized by said means to vary the effective length of the conveyor tenter means comprising means for bodily shifting said conveyor tenter means at one side relative to the other in a generally upstream or downstream direction, relative to fabric movement, whereby to change the length of travel of one fabric edge, relative to the other, from the point at which the fabric is slit to a predetermined point on a corresponding opening tenter.

4. The apparatus of claim I, further characterized by pro a. said conveyor tenter control means comprising means to vary the speed of the conveyor tenter means relative to the speed of the opening tenters for control of fabric overfeed onto the opening tenters.

5. An apparatus for opening slit tubular fabric, comprising a. a first pair of conveyor tenters separated by a space substantially less than the open width of the fabric for engaging and advancing the slit edge margins of the fabric,

b. a pair of opening tenters arranged in overlapping and straddling relation to said conveyor tenters to receive the fabric edges from the first conveyor tenters and disposed to advance said edges divergently to convert said fabric to open form, and

c. transfer means for engaging the fabric edges in a generally outward direction from the conveyor tenters and transferring the fabric edges to the opening tenters.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, further characterized by said transfer means comprising a. a transfer roller disposed for rotation about a generally vertical axis between each conveyor tenter and the opening tenter associated therewith, and

b. a pressure shoe urged toward the active surface portion of each roller to maintain a frictional gripping engagement between the transfer rollers and the fabric during transfer of thy fabric from the conveyor tenters to the opening tenters.

. The apparatus of claim further including a. means for driving said conveyor tenters and said transfer rollers in substantial synchronism, and

b. means for varying the speed of said conveyor tenters and transfer rollers relative to the speed of the opening tenters.

8. The apparatus of claim 5, further including a. means to bodily shift said conveyor tenters in a generally upstream-downstream direction relative to each other and relative to said transfer means, whereby the length of travel of one fabric edge may be varied relative to the other fabric edge, between the slitting point and a predetermined transfer point on a corresponding opening tenter.

9. A tenter apparatus for controllably handling an open width fabric, which comprises a. a pair of conveyor tenters for effecting initial engagement with the fabric edges,

b. a pair of processing tenters for receiving the fabric edges from the conveyor tenters,

independent transfer means for conveying each fabric edge from the conveyor tenters to the processing tenters, d. means for varying the speed of the conveyor tenters relative to the processing tenters, and

e. means for shifting the relative positions of one of the tenters relative to the transfer means, in a generally forwardrearward direction, whereby one fabric edge may be displaced longitudinally relative to the other.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, further characterized by a. said conveyor tenters comprising pin tenters and being oriented with their active tenter pins projecting generally horizontally toward each other and being spaced apart a distance substantially less than the full open width dimension of the fabric,

b. said processing tenters being located in straddling and overlapping relation to said conveyor tenters and comprising pin tenters and having predetermined portions oriented with their active tenter pins projecting generally horizontally toward each other and being spaced apart a distance substantially less than the full open width of said fabric, and

11. An apparatus for slitting, opening and processing tubular knitted fabric, which comprises a. means for supplying tubular knitted fabric,

b. a slitting knife for slitting the supplied fabric longitudinally,

c. a pair of conveyor tenters for engaging the slit fabric edges adjacent and on opposite sides of said slitting knife, and advancing said edges,

d. a pair of opening tenters positioned to receive the slit fabric edges from the conveyor tenters and to advance said edges divergently to full open width form,

e. said opening tenters having an integral processing tenter section in which the fully opened fabric is conveyed at full width with its edges substantially parallel while the fabric is subjected to processing action,

f. drive means for operating the conveyor tenters at a controllably greater rate of speed than the opening tenters, whereby to effect controlled overfeeding of the fabric onto the opening tenters, and

g. means to vary the effective length of travel of the conveyor tenters, one with respect to the other, whereby the slit fabric edges may be shifted longitudinally between the slitting point and predetermined points on the opening tenters,

h. transfer wheels at each side of the fabric for engaging its edge margins and transferring the fabric from the conveyor tenters to the processing tenters,

said means to vary comprising means for effecting relative position adjustments between the transfer wheels and one of the tenters in a generally forward-rearward direction.

12. An apparatus for slitting and opening tubular knitted fabric or the like comprising,

a. a slitting knife,

b. a fabric conveying means on each side of and extending downstream of the slitting knife,

c. said conveying means being engageable with the slit edge margins of the fabric and being operative to advance said fabric edges in a controlled manner,

. a pair of opening tenters located downstream of said slitting knife and arranged in cooperative relation to said conveying means,

. said opening tenters being positioned to receive the respective slit edge margins of the fabric from said conveying means and to advance said edges divergently to convert said fabric to an open width form, and

conveying control means for controllably varying the operation of said conveyor means relative to said opening tenters, whereby to afford variable control over the engagement of the fabric edges by the opening tenters,

said conveyor control means comprising means to vary the effective length of the conveying means at one side relative to the other side, whereby one fabric edge may be caused to travel through a longer path than the other for control of crossline straightness,

. said means to vary the effective length of the conveying means comprising means for bodily shifting said conveying means at either side in a generally upstream or downstream direction, relative to fabric movement, whereby to change the length of travel of one fabric edge, relative to the other, from the point at which the fabric is slit to a predetermined point on a corresponding opening tenter,

. said means for bodily shifting comprising (1) means for shifting the conveying means at one side in a direction to increase the length of travel for one fabric edge, and

(2) means for simultaneously shifting the conveyor means at the other side in a direction to decrease the length of travel for the other fabric edge.

13. An apparatus for opening slit tubular fabric, comprising a. a first pair of conveyor tenters for engaging and advancing the slit edge margins of the fabric,

b. a pair of opening tenters arranged to receive the fabric edges from the first conveyor tenters and disposed to advance said edges divergently to convert said fabric to open form,

c. transfer means for conveying the fabric edges from the conveyor tenters to the opening tenters, and

d. means to shift said conveyor tenters in a generally upstream-downstream direction, whereby the length of travel of one fabric edge may be varied relative to the other fabric edge, between the slitting point and a predetermined point on a corresponding opening tenter,

c. said means to shaft the conveyor tenters comprising means for shifting the respective conveyor tenters simultaneously in generally opposite directions, whereby to lengthen the fabric edge travel on one side and shorten it on the other.

14. An apparatus for opening slit tubular fabric, comprising a. a first pair of conveyor tenters for engaging and advancing the slit edge margins of the fabric,

b. a pair of opening tenters arranged to receive the fabric edges from the first conveyor tenters and disposed to advance said edges divergently to convert said fabric to open form,

c. transfer means for conveying the fabric edges from the conveyor tenters to the opening tenters, said transfer means comprising l. a transfer roller disposed for rotation about a generally vertical axis between each conveyor tenter and the opening tenter associated therewith, and

2. a pressure shoe urged toward the active surface portion of each roller to maintain a frictional gripping engagement between the transfer rollers and the fabric during transfer of the fabric from the conveyor tenters to the opening tenters,

d said conveyor tenters and said opening tenters being disposed generally in a common horizontal plane,

e. each said transfer roller being disposed in a plane disposed close to and below said common plane, and

f. a brush wheel being carried with each transfer roller, substantially in said common plane,

g. said brush wheels being arranged to effect at least initial engagement of the fabric margins with the opening tenters. 15. A tenter apparatus for controllably handling an open width fabric, which comprises a. a pair of endless conveyor tenters having advancing and returning reaches,

b. a pair of endless processing tenters having advancing and returning reaches,

c. means for applying the opposed edge margins of an open width fabric to the advancing reaches of the respective conveyor tenters, and

d. means for transferring the fabric edge margins from the returning reaches of the conveyor tenters to the advancing reaches of the processing tenters,

e. the transfer means comprising rollerlike elements located a. means being provided for controllably adjusting the location of at least one of the conveyor tenters and transfer element for one edge of the fabric, whereby the opposed edges ofthe fabric may be shifted longitudinally, one with respect to the other. 

1. An apparatus for slitting and opening tubular knitted fabric or the like comprising, a. a slitting knife, b. a fabric conveyor tenter means on each side of and extending downstream of the slitting knife, c. said conveyor tenter means being engageable with the slit edge margins of the fabric and being operative to advance said fabric by its edges in a controlled manner, d. a pair of opening tenters located downstream of said slitting knife and arranged in overlapping and straddling relation to said conveyor tenter means, e. said opening tenters being positioned to receive the respective slit edge margins of the fabric from said conveyor tenter means and to advance said edges divergently to convert said fabric to an open width form, f. transfer conveyor means extending between the conveyor tenter means and opening tenters, engageable with the fabric edges for transferring the same directly from one tenter means to the other, and g. conveyor tenter control means for controllably varying the operation of said conveyor tenter means relative to said opening tenters, whereby to afford variable control over the engagement of the fabric edges by the opening tenters.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, further characterized by a. said conveyor tenter control means comprising means to vary the effective length of the conveyor tenter means at one side relative to the other side, whereby one fabric edge may be caused to travel through a longer path than the other for control of cross line straightness.
 2. a pressure shoe urged toward the active surface portion of each roller to maintain a frictional gripping engagemEnt between the transfer rollers and the fabric during transfer of the fabric from the conveyor tenters to the opening tenters, d. said conveyor tenters and said opening tenters being disposed generally in a common horizontal plane, e. each said transfer roller being disposed in a plane disposed close to and below said common plane, and f. a brush wheel being carried with each transfer roller, substantially in said common plane, g. said brush wheels being arranged to effect at least initial engagement of the fabric margins with the opening tenters.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2, further characterized by a. said means to vary the effective length of the conveyor tenter means comprising means for bodily shifting said conveyor tenter means at one side relative to the other in a generally upstream or downstream direction, relative to fabric movement, whereby to change the length of travel of one fabric edge, relative to the other, from the point at which the fabric is slit to a predetermined point on a corresponding opening tenter.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, further characterized by a. said conveyor tenter control means comprising means to vary the speed of the conveyor tenter means relative to the speed of the opening tenters for control of fabric overfeed onto the opening tenters.
 5. An apparatus for opening slit tubular fabric, comprising a. a first pair of conveyor tenters separated by a space substantially less than the open width of the fabric for engaging and advancing the slit edge margins of the fabric, b. a pair of opening tenters arranged in overlapping and straddling relation to said conveyor tenters to receive the fabric edges from the first conveyor tenters and disposed to advance said edges divergently to cOnvert said fabric to open form, and c. transfer means for engaging the fabric edges in a generally outward direction from the conveyor tenters and transferring the fabric edges to the opening tenters.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5, further characterized by said transfer means comprising a. a transfer roller disposed for rotation about a generally vertical axis between each conveyor tenter and the opening tenter associated therewith, and b. a pressure shoe urged toward the active surface portion of each roller to maintain a frictional gripping engagement between the transfer rollers and the fabric during transfer of thy fabric from the conveyor tenters to the opening tenters.
 7. The apparatus of claim further including a. means for driving said conveyor tenters and said transfer rollers in substantial synchronism, and b. means for varying the speed of said conveyor tenters and transfer rollers relative to the speed of the opening tenters.
 8. The apparatus of claim 5, further including a. means to bodily shift said conveyor tenters in a generally upstream-downstream direction relative to each other and relative to said transfer means, whereby the length of travel of one fabric edge may be varied relative to the other fabric edge, between the slitting point and a predetermined transfer point on a corresponding opening tenter.
 9. A tenter apparatus for controllably handling an open width fabric, which comprises a. a pair of conveyor tenters for effecting initial engagement with the fabric edges, b. a pair of processing tenters for receiving the fabric edges from the conveyor tenters, c. independent transfer means for conveying each fabric edge from the conveyor tenters to the processing tenters, d. means for varying the speed of the conveyor tenters relative to the processing tenters, and e. means for shifting the relative positions of one of the tenters relative to the transfer means, in a generally forward-rearward direction, whereby one fabric edge may be displaced longitudinally relative to the other.
 10. The apparatus of claim 9, further characterized by a. said conveyor tenters comprising pin tenters and being oriented with their active tenter pins projecting generally horizontally toward each other and being spaced apart a distance substantially less than the full open width dimension of the fabric, b. said processing tenters being located in straddling and overlapping relation to said conveyor tenters and comprising pin tenters and having predetermined portions oriented with their active tenter pins projecting generally horizontally toward each other and being spaced apart a distance substantially less than the full open width of said fabric, and
 11. An apparatus for slitting, opening and processing tubular knitted fabric, which comprises a. means for supplying tubular knitted fabric, b. a slitting knife for slitting the supplied fabric longitudinally, c. a pair of conveyor tenters for engaging the slit fabric edges adjacent and on opposite sides of said slitting knife, and advancing said edges, d. a pair of opening tenters positioned to receive the slit fabric edges from the conveyor tenters and to advance said edges divergently to full open width form, e. said opening tenters having an integral processing tenter section in which the fully opened fabric is conveyed at full width with its edges substantially parallel while the fabric is subjected to processing action, f. drive means for operating the conveyor tenters at a controllably greater rate of speed than the opening tenters, whereby to effect controlled overfeeding of the fabric onto the opening tenters, and g. means to vary the effective length of travel of the conveyor tenters, one with respect to the other, whereby the slit fabric edges may be shifted longitudinally between the slitting point and predetermined points on the opening tenters., h. transfer wheels at each side of tHe fabric for engaging its edge margins and transferring the fabric from the conveyor tenters to the processing tenters, said means to vary comprising means for effecting relative position adjustments between the transfer wheels and one of the tenters in a generally forward-rearward direction.
 12. An apparatus for slitting and opening tubular knitted fabric or the like comprising, a. a slitting knife, b. a fabric conveying means on each side of and extending downstream of the slitting knife, c. said conveying means being engageable with the slit edge margins of the fabric and being operative to advance said fabric edges in a controlled manner, d. a pair of opening tenters located downstream of said slitting knife and arranged in cooperative relation to said conveying means, e. said opening tenters being positioned to receive the respective slit edge margins of the fabric from said conveying means and to advance said edges divergently to convert said fabric to an open width form, and f. conveying control means for controllably varying the operation of said conveyor means relative to said opening tenters, whereby to afford variable control over the engagement of the fabric edges by the opening tenters, g. said conveyor control means comprising means to vary the effective length of the conveying means at one side relative to the other side, whereby one fabric edge may be caused to travel through a longer path than the other for control of crossline straightness, h. said means to vary the effective length of the conveying means comprising means for bodily shifting said conveying means at either side in a generally upstream or downstream direction, relative to fabric movement, whereby to change the length of travel of one fabric edge, relative to the other, from the point at which the fabric is slit to a predetermined point on a corresponding opening tenter, i. said means for bodily shifting comprising (1) means for shifting the conveying means at one side in a direction to increase the length of travel for one fabric edge, and (2) means for simultaneously shifting the conveyor means at the other side in a direction to decrease the length of travel for the other fabric edge.
 13. An apparatus for opening slit tubular fabric, comprising a. a first pair of conveyor tenters for engaging and advancing the slit edge margins of the fabric, b. a pair of opening tenters arranged to receive the fabric edges from the first conveyor tenters and disposed to advance said edges divergently to convert said fabric to open form, c. transfer means for conveying the fabric edges from the conveyor tenters to the opening tenters, and d. means to shift said conveyor tenters in a generally upstream-downstream direction, whereby the length of travel of one fabric edge may be varied relative to the other fabric edge, between the slitting point and a predetermined point on a corresponding opening tenter, e. said means to shaft the conveyor tenters comprising means for shifting the respective conveyor tenters simultaneously in generally opposite directions, whereby to lengthen the fabric edge travel on one side and shorten it on the other.
 14. An apparatus for opening slit tubular fabric, comprising a. a first pair of conveyor tenters for engaging and advancing the slit edge margins of the fabric, b. a pair of opening tenters arranged to receive the fabric edges from the first conveyor tenters and disposed to advance said edges divergently to convert said fabric to open form, c. transfer means for conveying the fabric edges from the conveyor tenters to the opening tenters, said transfer means comprising
 15. A tenter apparatus for controllably handling an open width fabric, which comprises a. a pair of endless conveyor tenters having advancing and returning reaches, b. a pair of endless processing tenters having advancing and returning reaches, c. means for applying the opposed edge margins of an open width fabric to the advancing reaches of the respective conveyor tenters, and d. means for transferring the fabric edge margins from the returning reaches of the conveyor tenters to the advancing reaches of the processing tenters, e. the transfer means comprising rollerlike elements located between the returning reaches of the conveyor tenters and the advancing reaches of the respective cooperating processing tenters.
 16. The tenter apparatus of claim 15, further characterized by a. means being provided for controllably adjusting the location of at least one of the conveyor tenters and transfer element for one edge of the fabric, whereby the opposed edges of the fabric may be shifted longitudinally, one with respect to the other. 